The Bachelorette

"The most important quality I seek in a man?" I started, "It's presence. Someone who is present with me. Looks at me when we speak. Listens to me. Pays attention, and isn't distracted. That's the greatest turn-on."

I sat on the blue chair in my home-office, the phone cradled between my ear and shoulder, listening to the man on the other end, who said he was interested in me, interested in courting me and being my suitor.

His voice was strong and deep (I like that), "I understand, completely," he said.

Oh good!

"Being present for the person you're with is important, and it's very important to me."

A high-pitched female voice shouted in his background.

He kept talking, ignoring...

"Yes, Mary, just send Stewart the memo we drafted earlier. You know the one about the such and such deal, yes, no, yes that one!"

"Excuse me," I said.

"Mary, it's on my desk!" His voice escalated, "I told you earlier! How many times do I..."

His voice was getting exasberated. "We're trying to get out of the... "

Was he talking to me or Mary?

"... we're trying to get out of the office, sorry about that."

Okay, he was talking to me.

"Let's talk later," I offered, thinking this guy isn't present at all, and kind of rude.

"Now's a great time to talk," he said. "We're just finishing up here. That's all. I'm a little distracted."

Mary shouted, "It's not here! I loooooo......."

"Listen, I'm going to go," I said. "Let's talk when you're not distracted."